Speed and braking distance indicator



Feb. 1, 1944. H. F. MORLEY ET AL 2,340,403

SPEED AND BRAKING DISTANCE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 11, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS flanker/" 5 Mar/e, 490 E. agar/7W7? ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 1, 1944.

-H. F. MORLEY ET AL 2,340,403

SPEE D AND BRAKING DISTANCE INDICATOR Filed Dec 11, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DKOC IN VENTORS, 6 flefifierf I t- 5 W? 00 BY Pay Gear r j A'ILTORNEYS.

Feb. 1, 1944. H. F. MORLEY ET AL 2,340,403

SPEED AND BRAKING DISTANCE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 11, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS, hie/warff? Mar/e P0 42'. ear/ra/vfi ATTORNEYS 1944. H. F. MORLEY ET AL 2,340,403

SPEED AND BRAKING DISTANCE INDICATOR Filed Dec. 11, 1959 4 Sheets5heet 4 INVENTORS. flanker/- EMafl/ey ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 1, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,340,403 1 SPEED ANII BRAKING insrANCE INDICATOR Herbert'F. Morley and-Roy E. Gearhart, Kansas City, Mo.

Application December 11, 1939, Serial No. 308,820

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvementsin speed and braking distance indicators for automobiles and particularly to devices whereby the ground speed of an automobile is indicated at spaced intervals for apredetermined distance last traveled, as is also thedistance required to stop the automobile after setting thebrakes.

This invention is an improvement over our pending application Serial No. 272,252, which has maturedinto Patent No. 2,270,599 with the added featureof means for indicating the distance required to stop the automobile after the brake is first set.

In the operation of an automobile, it is; very important for'safe driving, toknow the distance required to stop the automobile from apredeter mined speed of travel.

It is the principal object of thepresentinvention to provide a speedand braking distance indicator in combination with a magnetic speedometer, having a magnet rotor shaft and a drag elementshaft whereby a series of circumferentially disposed indicatingmembers are rotated intermittently by'saidymagnetrotor shaft, and means operated by said intermittently rotated series whereby the distance-required to stop the vehicle by braking is indicated.

Another object of thisinvention is the provision of an instrument whereby the distancerequired to stop the automobileisindicated, as is also the ground speed of theautomobile; atthe time the brake was set.

A further object of thisinvention istheprovision of an indicator whereby a magnetic drag unit responsive to the'ground speed of the automobile operates to control means; whereby the distance required to stop the automobile, by means of its brakes, from an indicated ground speed, is indicated.

With these aswell as other objects, which-will appear during the course of thespecification' in view, reference will now be had to thedrawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan viewoi a past speed andbraking distance indicator for automobiles, partly broken away to show different parts embodying this invention. 7 v

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 9.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line IY -IV Of. Fig. 1, with a diagrammatic showing of the circuit connected therewith.

Fig. dis a fragmentary sectional view taken on li'neY-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the magnetic drag unit assembly.

Fig. 'Z is an inverted sectional plan view taken on line VII-VII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an inverted plan viewtaken on line VII -IVI].'I or Fig. 4. v

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, showing the braking and operating means for the star wheeland associated parts.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line X-X of Fig. 4.

Fig, 11 is an invertedplan view of a portion of the secondary housing carrying the bell ringing device.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the drag cup and parts associated therewith.

Fi 13 is an enlarged sectional view of the magnetic drag cup and associated parts to indicate thecurrent speed on a rotatable disc.

Fig. 1415 an enlarged view of the upper end portion of the drag cup shaft H0 and its associated parts; and,

M Fig. 15 is a seetiontaken on line Xv- X'v of Fig.

Throughout the several views, like reference characters designate similar parts and the numeral 20 is athousingof substantially cylindrical form openatone side and provided with a transparent cover member 22, throug-hwhich the operator may observe the speed and braking distanceindications hereinafter set forth.

A tubular standard 24 positioned axially in housing 20, extends through opening 26 formed through the housing andis rigidlysecured there to by nut 28 threaded on the lower off-set end portion of the standard. A secondary housing 30 is secured to the bott'om wall 32 of housing 29 by means of screws 34.

This instrumentcontemplates the use of the magnetic drag unit or speedometer 36, having a rotary mounted shaft 38 interconnected with the flexible speedometer drive shaft 40, which is drive en by means (notshown) at a speed proportionate-to the vground speed of the automobile.

Shaft38 carries at itsinner end, abar magnet 42 which rotates therewith within the drag or speed cup 44 which is concentrically positioned within the stationary field cup 46. When magnet 4 2is rotated; the drag cup is caused to rotate througha. partial revolution to move shaft 48, which is carried by drag cup 44, in axial alignment Withshaft; 38-

shaft 48 is provided with a hair spring 50 which limits its rotary 66 mounted on shaft 68 that is rotatably mounted in bearing block I0, carried by the secondary housing 80. Shaft 68 is also provided with a worm I2 to operatively engage worm gear I4 fixedly mounted on rotatably mounted shaft I6,

which is journalled in parallel relation to shaft 38 in block I0. The upper end of shaft I6 is provided with a spur gear I6 which intermeshes with spur gear 80 to drive shaft 82 mounted for rotation in block I0.

Spur gear 80 is mounted for rotation on shaft 62 and is secured in position by fixed collar 8|. The hub of gear 80 is provided with an integral ratchet wheel 88 which is engaged by pawl 85 pivoted to disc 84 which is fixed to shaft 82. When the automobile is driven forward the pawl is urged against ratchet wheel 83'by spring 8'! which will cause shaft 82 to berotated. Should the direction of travel of the automobile be reversed, then the pawl would ride over the ratchet wheel and shaft 82 would not be rotated.

Shaft 82 extends through wall 32 of housing 20 to carry for rotation therewith, an operating disc 64, which is provided with two transversely disposed operating rollers 86 and 88, rotatably mounted on stub shafts 90 carried by disc 84. This disc is constantly rotated when the automobile is in motion and its speed of rotation is in direct proportion to the rate of speed of the vehicle.-

Speedometer shaft 38 is also provided with a spur gear- '02 which intermeshes with an intermediate spur gear 84, mounted by shouldered screw 96 to bearing block III. This intermediate idle gear drives gear 98 which is rigidly mounted on shaft I of the secondary speedometer I02 to drive this speedometer at a speed corresponding'with the speed of speedometer 36. Shaft I00 carries a magnet I04 which rotates within drag cup'l06, which in turn is concentrically mounted in stationary field cup I08.

In axial alignment with shaft I00 and extending through standard 24, is a shaft H0 which is secured to drag cup I06 to rotate therewith. This shaft is normally held in the normal position by hair spring H2 with arm II4 engaging stop pin II6.

A stationary disc II8 carried by standard 24 is graduated at I to designate miles per hour being traveled by the vehicle, and the indicator hand I2I carried by shaft H0, is adapted to rotate to indicate the current speed being traveled.

The speedometer mechanism above described, is old in the art and serves to time and properly position the parts to indicate the speed of the car at predetermined distances last traveled and to also indicate the distance required to stop the vehicle when being driven at a certain rate of speed.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the frame 62 comprises a hub I22 mounted for rotation on standard 24 and provided with a disc I24 carrying a series of posts I26 which support a ring I28 disposed concentrically with standard 24. A circularly disposed series of equally spaced shafts 60 arranged in parallel relation to standard 24 and concentrically therewith are mounted for rotation in disc I24 and ring I28 of frame 62.

Discs I30 carried by shafts 60 respectively, are graduated at I32 to indicate the current speed of the automobile when set and to maintain said set position for a predetermined distance last traveled by the vehicle. The position of the disc below ring I28 is such that the indicia indicating the rate of speed, will be visible through openings I34 formed through ring I28,

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that each shaft 60 is provided with a brake wheel I36 against which the brake shoe I38, pivoted at I40 to disc I24, bears to normally hold the shaft 60 and its associated parts against rotation. The spring I42 secured to shoe I38 urges the shoe to the braking position against the brake wheel I36. Outwardly projecting arm I44 integral with shoe I38 travels in a circular path to engage an abutment I46 carried by bottom wall 32 of the housing to release the brake and shaft to permit it to be moved by the magnetic action of magnet 56 at each complete revolution of the frame 62.

The distance of ground travel necessary to move frame 62 through one complete revolution may be predetermined and set at any desired distance. And, since the discs I30 are equally spaced, they will each indicate the speed of travel of the automobile at the position of their respective setting. Each disc will maintain said indicating position substantially through a full revolution of the series.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 10, reference will be had to the means for intermittently rotating frame 62 and its associated parts. It will be noted that a star wheel I48 having equally spaced apart radial arms I50 is secured by rivets I52 to hub I22 for rotation with frame 62. This star wheel is held in spaced relation to the bottom wall 32 by means of a spring washer I54 fitted into the annular groove I56 formed in standard 24. The rollers 86 and 88 carried by disc 84, which is rotated in direct ratio to the speed of the automobile, are so positioned with relation to arms I50 ing face of each of the arms I50 is provided with a cam I58 for contact with the driving roller, whereby the rate of speed of the star wheel is substantially in uniform ratio with the speed of driving disc 84.

Star wheel I48 is normally secured against rotation by means of detent I60 pivoted at I62 and provided with an arm I64 having a notch I66 into which the end of one of the arms I50 is adapted to rest until pins 86 and 88 engage cam I68 formed on arm I10 of detent I 60 to force arm I64 away from arm I50 and permit the star wheel to be rotated by roller 88 or 86.

Magnet 56 is normally held in a fixed position against rotation, but mustbe released at stated intervals of car travel to permit of its proper positioning to correspond with the current speed of the automobile. This intermittent movement of the magnet is accomplished by means of the following mechanism, best shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and comprising a brake arm I12 pivoted at I14 tobottom wall 32, adapted to be urged by spring I16 against a brake drum I18, rigidly mounted on shaft 48. A cam member I80, integral with arm I'I2, normally held in the path of travel of rollers 86 and 88, is intermittently operated by said rollers to release the tension of brake arm I12 from drum I18, thus permitting the drag cup to function to set magnet 56 in a position to correspond with the current speed of the automobile. The timing of this magnet setting operation is accomplished and the brake is again set just prior to the operation of the star Wheel I48 and the setting of magnet 58 to position disc I38 to indicate the speed as indicated by the set magnet 56. It will be noted that the time of setting disc I33 is made a short distance of travel'after the setting of magnet 56, however, since these operations are very close together, there will be very little diiference between the speed indication on disc I30 and the actual current speed of the vehicle.

In order to maintain a definite spaced relation between the magnets 56 and 58, rollers I8I mounted on brackets I82, which are secured by means of screws in spaced apart relation to the housing, bottom 32, are adapted to contact disc I24 at all times.

Means for indicating the distance required to stop the automobile traveling from a predetermined speed, by means of its brakes, is best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 12 and 15. Sleeve I84 mounted axially for rotation in standard 24 projects beyond 24 at both ends and encircles shaft II 8. Rigidly secured to the upper end of sleeve I84 is a pair of diametrically disposed arms I83 each having transversely disposed end pointers I88 adapted to be moved to contact ring I22 for movement therewith. One of arms I85 is normally positioned at the zero mark I93 on the graduations inscribed on the stationary disc I I8, which indicates ground distance traveled by the Vehicle during the braking operation. lhe longitudinal movement of sleeve I84 is accomplished by means of the following mechanism controlled by the foot brake lever I 94, shown diagram matically in Fig. 4:

A solenoid I95 secured to bottom wall 32 and having a coil I98 and a movable core 299, normally held in the extended position by coil spring 292, is operable through connecting link 294 and bellcrank lever 209, which is mounted on bracket 293 secured to bottom 32 to engage the annular ring 2H1 integral with sleeve I84 to move the same as the solenoid is energized, thereby causing end pointers I89 to engage ring I28 and rotate sleeve I84 together with its associated parts. An arm 2I2 extending radially from ring 2H) is adapted to engage stop pin 2 I4 when end pointer I88 registers with zero I99. An extension spring 2I6 secured at its one end to a post 2I8 mounted in bottom wall 32 and at its other end to arm 2I2, normally holds arm 212 against stop pin 2I4 but yields sufficiently to permit sleeve I84 to be rotated when the pointers I88 engage ring The electrical connection between the brake pedal and the solenoid is as follows:

A battery 229 is connected by wire 222 at its one terminal to one contact point 224'carried by the brake lever I94, which is adapted to contact resilient contact point 226. The other terminal of battery 220 is connected by Wire 2253 through signal lamp 233 to one side of coil I98. The otherside of coil I98 is connected bymeans of wire 232. to wire 228 adjacent battery-220. A

switch 234 is positioned in live wire 232whereby the circuit is controlled.

The resilient contact member 226 is intercom nected by wire 235 to wire 228.

When switch 234 is closed and the brake foot lever is depressed to move point 234 in contact with contact member 226, the current from battery 229 will energize coil I98 and cause the core to move inwardly against the compression spring 292, thus causing sleeve I84 to be moved horizontally to set the pointers I88 and cause the sleeve to rotate.

It will be noted that arm I 86 registers with the zero mark on the stationary disc I I3 and that at the-instant the brake lever I94 is operated, arm I86 starts rotating with ring I28, which 1'0? tates in direct proportion to the ground travel of the vehicle; thus indicating by the position at stopping or" the arm on graduations I96, the distance of travel during the braking operation.

Since it is desired to maintain the end pointers I38 in operative engagement with ring I28 for a predetermined distance of ground travel, regardless of the position of the brake lever I94, the following mechanical means is provided:

As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the hub 236 of arms I84 is provided in its periphery with spaced apart notches 238 and 249. Astationary bracket 2&2 carried by plate IIS has a tooth 224 which registers with notch 238 when the sleeve I82 is in the normal position, so that when the sleeve is moved downwardly as described above, hub 236 will pass below tooth 244 and then as the sleeve is rotated, the tooth will engage the top side of hub 23%; and hold the pointers I83 in operative contact with ring I28 until the hub 236 rotates far enough so that the tooth 224 will register with notch 249 when the sleeve will be forced upwardly to its normal position by the action of spring 292 to force bellcrank lever 26 against collar 248, which is integral with'sleeve IS I. It should be noted that arms I86 are somewhat resilient and will slightly flex when the ends I88 thereof contact ring I23.

The distance between notches 233 and 243 is such that the entire range of graduations I99 may be utilized in the braking operation before the indicating arm I35 will return to the normal position. Should the distance required for stopping be less than the 330 it. as indicated at I93, then the arm I will not return to the starting point until the vehicle is again operated for a distance to make up the deficiency. For a further convenience of indicating the starting point or" arm I85, projecting tooth 243 is provided at the periphery of disc II8.

To properly determine the eificiency of the vehicle brakes, it is necessary to know the speed of travel of the automobile, as indicated on the disc I 39, which is properly associated with the indicating arm I86 at the time of setting the brake. The positions of these parts, as shown in Fig l, are represented at time of setting the brake.

When the brake is thus set, arm I86 will travel with ring I28 and will be pointing toward the numeral 4%, and, for example, if it requires 132 ft. to stop the car, this distance will be indicated on the graduation E! by said arm I556. Thus showing at a glance, that the brake was set when the car was at a speed of 40 mi. andthat it required a distance of 132 ft. to stop the car.

Since it is desirable to have some signal to -in dicate to the driver the time that the arm I 86- and the speed indicating numeral are in proper relation for braking, a mechanical bell or gong 250 is provided.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 11, it will be observed that shaft 82 extends through secondary housing 30 and is provided with a cam 252 which rotates with said shaft in timed relation with the speed of the vehicle. An arm 254 pivoted at 256 to housing 38 has a clapper 258 at its free end positioned to strike the bell member 260 mounted on housing 30. This clapper is urged toward bell 260 by a spring 262 which is associated therewith. Arm 254 has a ratchet tooth 264 against which cam 252 travels in its rotary movement to force the clapper away from the bell, and when the cam leaves the tooth, spring 262 will cause the clapper to strike the bell and cause an audible signal for the operator to set his foot brake pedal.

An adjustable stop 265 consisting of a rod 266 mounted for longitudinal movement in bearings 268 carried by housing 30, is provided with an annular groove 210 into which a flexible spring .member rests to preclude accidental movement of rod 266 when the rod is positioned in the path of travel of arm 254 to prevent ringing of the bell. When it is desired to ring the bell, the operator engages button 272 on rod 266 to pull it outwardly a distance sufficient to move it out of the path of travel of arm 254.

Since it is a known fact that the time of response to a signal varies with the different drivers, it is found convenient to sound the gong slightly ahead of the registering of arm I86 with the speed indicating numeral on the disc I30 in order to obtain a more accurate register. Should these parts be slightly out of register, the only defect would be the possible change in the speed of the car during the time required to set the brake after the signal is sounded, which would necessarily be very slight.

In making the brake test the operator waits until he hears the gong which sounds substantially as the disc is changed then he sets the brake and the indicator I86 moves along the scale I90 to indicate the distance required to stop the automobile. The operator now refers to the speed the car was traveling at the time the brake was set as indicated on the disc adjacent the indicator I86.

The usual cumulative indication of total miles traveled is provided for the in the following mechanism:

An internal ring gear 214 concentrically mounted on rotary disc I24 intermeshes with a spur gear 216 rotatably mounted in bearing 218 (Fig. 5)- Worm 280 is in operative relation with worm gear 282, which in turn is rigidly afiixed to shaft 284 of the cumulator 286 so that as the disc I24 is rotated in direct response to the ground speed of the automobile, the total number of miles traveled will be indicated on the cumulator through the window 288 formed through disc II8 to which the cumulator is attached.

For the purpose of eliminating the end thrust on shafts 48 and 60, due to magnetic pull between magnets 56 and 58, a hardened thrust plate 290 is axially positioned on magnet 56 against which bears the rounded end portion 292 of shaft 60- this structure eliminates most of the friction due to the magnetic end thrust and makes it possible to obtain more exact readings of the ground speed indicators.

The operation of the speed and brake distance indicator is as follows: When the automobile is in motion, shaft 42 is rotated by means responsive to the speed of the automobile. The rotary frame 62 carrying the speed indicating members I30 is simultaneously rotated at a speed proportionate to the ground speed of the automobile and makes one complete revolution in a predetermined distance of vehicle travel so that the interval between adjacent indicating members I30 will correspond to a predetermined distance of ground travel. In the present showing the predetermined distance is 330 feet; however, this distance could be easily varied by changing the gearing, spacing, etc. By means of this device, each of the indicating members is set to indicate the current speed of the automobile and retains that setting during its travel throughout substantially a full revolution of the ring assembly, thus making it possible for the operator to determine the speed of travel of the automobile at given intervals for substantially a half mile of travel.

A stationary disc H8 graduated at I20 serves to indicate the speed of the automobile as the indicator hand is moved thereover by the shaft H0, The shaft carrying each of the speed indicating members I 30 is provided with a brake means which normally holds the indicating member against rotation. However, means is provided to release said brake so as to permit the indicating member I30 to be set as its associated magnet moves into the effective magnetic field of the setting magnet 56. By this means each of the indicating members I30 will be set to indicate the speed of travel of the automobile at the position of their respective settings, and each indicating member will maintain its position substantially throughout a full revolution of the series of discs. The star wheel I48 rigidly secured to rotatable frame 62 is driven intermittent to move the series of discs forwardly one step each time. At each movement of the indicating members one of the members I30 is released then set by magnet 56 to indicate the current speed of the automobile.

The means indicating th distance required to stop the automobile from a predetermined speed of travel is best shown in Figs. 1, 4, 12 and 15 and includes a manually operable switch lever I94 which causes the pointers I88 of arms I86 to engage ring I28 and move therewith over the graduated indicia I90. The arm I86 normally stands at zero on indicia I and the number of feet traveled during the braking operation will be indicated by the position of the arm I86 as indicated by the indicia.

Mechanism, best shown in Figs. 14 and 15, is provided to maintain the pointers I88 in operative engagement with ring I28 for a predetermined distance of ground travel of the automobile so as to make it possible tohave sufficient time to observe the braking distance when the car comes to a stop after braking. It is quite apparent that when the brake is manually caused to set notched disc 236, said disc will drop below bracket 242 and ride there-below to force pointer I88 against ring I28. This position of the parts will obtain until the bracket 242 registers with notch 244 in disc 236 when the pointer I88 will be released and the arm I86 will automatically return to register with the zero on indicia I90.

To indicate the proper time for setting the brake, it is found convenient to indicate by an audible signal the time that arm I86 is in register with indicia I32 carried by indicating members 39. By setting the brake when the arm I86 is in alignment with said indicia I32, the arm and indicia will travel in this registered relation so that the speed at which the automobile was traveling when the brake was set will be definite- 1y indicated. Furthermore, the number of feet required to stop the automobile will be indicated on the stationary disc by indicia I90.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above structure without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is desired to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a speed and brake distance indicator for automobiles a shaft driven proportionately to the ground speed of the car; a magnetic drag unit driven by said driven shaft; a rotatably mounted ring driven by said driven shaft; a series of rotatably mounted speed indicating discs carried by said ring which are adapted to be successively and independently set at spaced apart unit distances of travel of said automobile by means controlled by said magnetic drag unit to indicate the then current speed of the automobile; braking distance indicating means driven by said driven shaft through said rotatably mounted ring when the automobile brake is manually set whereby the braking distance is indicated; and means operable to frictionally maintain said braking distance means in the indicating position when the automobile comes to rest.

In a speed and braking distance indicator for automobiles, a shaft driven proportionately to the ground speed of the automobile; a magnetic drag unit driven by said driven shaft; a rotatably mounted ring driven by said driven shaft; a series of rotatably mounted speed indicating discs carried by said ring which are adapted to m from the last current speed indicated by the last said disc is indicated; and means to maintain said braking distance indicating means in the indicating position when the automobile comes to rest.

15 3. In a speed and braking distance indicator for automobiles a shaft driven proportionately to the ground speed of the automobile; a magnetic drag unit driven by said driven shaft; a rotatably mounted ring driven by said driven 29 shaft; a series of rotatably mounted speed indicating discs carried by said ring which are adapted to be successively and independently set at equal spaced apart unit distances of travel of said automobile by means controlled by said 25 magnetic drag unit to indicate the then current speed of the automobile; signalling means operable by said driven shaft as each disc is set; braking distance indicating means driven by said driven shaft through said rotatably mounted 0 ring when the automobile brake is manually set whereby the braking distance is indicated; manually controlled means in operative relation with the automobile brake setting means whereby the brake distance indicating means is inter-con- 5 nected with and driven by said rotatably mounted ring; and releasable means to maintain said braking distance indicating means in the il'ldleating position when the automobile comes to rest.

40 HERBERT F. MORLEY.

ROY E. GEARHART. 

